HAPPY BIRTHDAY DADDY!

Dear Daddy,

I wanted to wish you a very happy birthday! I'm so glad that I'm here this year to celebrate with you. You are a really great daddy. I love it when you sing to me or talk to me in silly voices. I think you're really funny. Soon I'll be able to throw the basketball back to you when you throw it to me. I love you!

Elijah

Oh yeah, mommy loves you too!

He's Pretty Cute When He's Awake Too...

I was able to catch Elijah in some smiles today after his nap.  This smile just kills me...

Hi, blue eyes.

He loves to lounge.

So Sweet

Today while I was taking a shower and getting ready for the day, I laid Elijah on our bed to play because it didn't seem like he was quite ready for a nap.  Well, when I got done getting ready, I went back out into our room, and this is what I saw.  He literally went from playing, talking and squealing to knocked out cold in a matter of minutes. So sweet.

An Attempt at Rice Cereal.

Attempt is the key word of that title.  Elijah had a dr's appt on Tuesday (his 4 month checkup) and the pediatrician gave me the go  ahead to introduce some "solid" food.  I put solid in quoatations there because it still seems like liquid to me! Anyway, we tried it out yesterday.  Let's just say it's going to take more effort than I thought!

A little too small for the high chair yet, unfortunately.

So we moved him into his new bumbo seat.  He has no idea what he's in for.

Not loving this!

Trying to decide...

Not thrilled.

Just because he's cute...

Just a few pictures I took of the little guy yesterday. It's hard to get him in a smile because he is always intrigued by the camera.  Oh well...he's still handsome!

I think he was mid-sentence here.

This is his "What are you going to do next to keep me interested?" look.

Elijah's Dedication

Today was a very special day for the Duncan family - it was Elijah's dedication! I don't know why it is called "Elijah's" dedication, because it is actually Chrissie and I publicly dedicating ourselves to raise Elijah in a way that shows him God's love and points him to Jesus. It is a very important decision to make and our church body has agreed to help us as we raise Elijah. We would appreciate your prayers as well as Chrissie and I do our best to raise Elijah this way.

Dad and Mom Spier came out for the event. We loved having them here for that and for Mother's Day as well. 

Dad watching Elijah while Elijah watches the golf tournament on TV

Chrissie and her mom and Elijah and his mom

Here is a video of the dedication service at church today. I pieced clips together because the whole thing was too long to post on the blog and also because during the whole time where the Pastor Derrick said a phrase and repeated it, he stood RIGHT in Dad's way so all you can see of Chrissie and Elijah and me is the right side of my body. That was unfortunate.  But thank you Dad for videotaping! You did a great job.

In the first part of the video, it's hard to tell, but Elijah just started SCREAMING for no reason at all right before we walked on stage. Thankfully it only lasted a couple seconds and then he pulled it together before his performance. 

Happy Mother's Day!

Happy Mother's Day to all the mother's out there! I love that we have a day to appreciate everything Mom's do because after having a kid and trying to do some of the stuff they have to do (like comfort a crying baby or changing really nasty diapers or talking to someone who doesn't talk back) I've come to appreciate the job of a mom MUCH MUCH more. Well, since I didn't get Chrissie a card for her first Mother's Day (I know, that's really lame on my part), I decided to do a blog post. Here goes.

Chrissie/Mommy,

Elijah and I both wanted to tell you how much we love you. Since he can't type very fast, I'm going to speak for both or us :) Who would have imagined that this is what God had planned for us? It was on Mother's Day last year that we found out we were going to have a baby and you (and me) couldn't have been more scared. Our plan of waiting at least 3-4 years after we got married before having a kid got moved up to a quick 1 year and 3 days. But now look at you; you are one of the best mothers around. 

Elijah wants you to know that he really appreciates you staying home with him during the day and changing his diapers and singing his "silly little songs" (direct quote) to him that always make him smile. He loves you very, very much.

I wanted to let you know that you've displayed an amazing amount of patience and strength since you became a mom. Now instead of just taking care of me, you manage to fit in time and energy for both me and Elijah. I really appreciate all the nights where you got up to take care of Elijah so that I could get my sleep. I also appreciate your patience on Wednesdays when I have work and then class so the only person you "talk to" all day is Elijah. You say you don't contribute much to our family, but I think you contribute WAY more than I do. There is no way I could do what you do. I love you babe and somehow I love you more each day.

Happy Mother's Day to one of the best in the biz,

-Kirk and Elijah

My Two Loves

Also, I can't do a Mother's Day post without giving a shout-out to my own mom. Mom, I love you and you did/still do a great job as a mother. Now that I've got one, five kids seems like a lot to handle at one time. Thank you for all your love.

-Kirk

Me and my mom dancing at my wedding

Our Little Talker

Elijah has been talking up a storm the last couple days.  I caught this video of him today telling us a story.  Unfortunately, it's sideways and I don't know how to fix that, but you get the picture! 

ps. When I start talking at the end I think I sound exactly like Jessica! Crazy.